By MARILYNN MARCHIONE / AP Medical Writer If a simple, painless test can find the world’s deadliest cancer when it is smaller than a pea — and such a test does indeed exist — shouldn’t people who are most at risk have one? Surprisingly, the federal government, American Cancer Society and a raft of cancer…

By JOHN GEROME / Associated Press Writer Antonello Persiano, from Malta, holds a microphone once used by Elvis Presley, inside the Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005. (AP Photo/Mike Brown) NASHVILLE — For all its hip-shaking appeal, rockabilly music had a remarkably brief heyday, beginning with Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock”…

MEMPHIS (AP) — The Rev. Al Sharpton is joining a protest over whether to rename three Memphis parks that honor the Confederacy. He arrived in Memphis on Saturday to join a rally protesting the names of Confederate, Forrest and Jefferson Davis parks. He said he’s offended that some people find it acceptable “that public property…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Police say a man who has called himself “a monster” has confessed to slayings across the country. Garland Milam, 40, already is charged with killing two homeless men in Nashville. Investigators won’t say how many slayings Milam has confessed to elsewhere, but police agencies from Texas, Arizona and possibly Ohio are coming…

BLOUNTVILLE (AP) — A dermatologist pleaded guilty Friday to illegally prescribing painkillers to a woman in exchange for sex, but he will serve no jail time and continue practicing medicine. Dr. Robert Morris Glasgow, 72, was sentenced to four years on probation and a $10,000 fine on five counts of illegally prescribing the painkiller Lortab.…

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) — A Court TV anchor has dropped a restraining order against a heckler who hurled insults at her as she covered Michael Jackson’s molestation trial. Diane Dimond claimed in her June 9 court filing that Bobby Joe Hickman, 18, of Knoxville, Tenn., incited people to attack her and that she felt…

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — TennCare enrollees and their advocates say they can’t get too excited about Gov. Phil Bredesen’s decision to keep 97,000 of the sickest adults on the public health care program because they aren’t sure how long they will be able to stay on the program.…

By TOM RAUM / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — The war in Iraq and the soaring price of gasoline are drowning out a succession of positive reports on the economy, putting President Bush on the defensive at a time when he could be basking in good economic news. Despite months of economic growth, tame inflation,…

By Tad Bartimus / Columnist When I need courage, I drive a few miles down a one-lane road to sit quietly in a country churchyard beside the grave of aviator Charles A. Lindbergh.No matter how many times I’ve flown across oceans in jetliner comfort, I remain awed by his 1927 solo crossing of the Atlantic…

By Thomas Vaughn / Columnist The tragic death of ABC World News anchor Peter Jennings last week marked the end of an era in television news broadcast journalism.With the earlier departure of Tom Brokaw from NBC, and Dan Rather from CBS anchor duties, Peter Jennings was the “last man standing” from the three giants of…